Fear

We all seem to be afraid of something.  Sometimes, that fear can be tamed by a nightlight or a parent taking care of the monsters under the bed.  As we get older, it seems ours fears get bigger and not as easily soothed.  How I wish we could all be young again when we believe our parents are all powerful and can protect us from anything we fear.  Oh wait.  That actually is still true.  As we age, we realize our human parents can't protect us from all the evils of this world, but our Heavenly Father is all powerful and CAN protect us.

The problem is, we live in a fallen, imperfect world and there is evil all around us.  In fact, Jesus said, "In this world, you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 (NIV)  There will be trouble while we live on this earth, but with Christ in our hearts, this world is not our home.  Someday, we will have a perfect home in Heaven.  In the meantime, we are not alone as we deal with the trouble in this world.  Easy to say, but much harder to live.  And, even harder to help kids learn when they're just starting to see that a nightlight or hug will not erase all the evil in the world.

It is an important task as parents to point them to the only perfect Father.  It is not an easy task, but it is vital.  In order for that to be able to happen, we need to be reaching towards God ourselves when fear and worry begins to creep in.  We need to teach by example that we turn toward God's word and prayer because He is our strength and salvation.  We need to remind them and ourselves that "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."  II Timothy 1:7  We need to pray that God takes away our timidity or fear and helps us use our spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

I'd really like comments from all of you.  How do you deal with fear in your life?  How do you keep it from immobilizing you?  How do you teach your children to turn to God with their fears?  How do you help them keep from immobilizing their lives with fear?  How do you teach them to keep themselves safe, but continue to reach out to others and follow God's will for their lives?

"The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?"  Psalm 27:1